Liquid applicator



, April 3, 1951 L. SANDERS ETAL LIQUID APPLICATUR Filed March 26, 1948 Patented Apr. 3, 1 951 2,547,287 LIQUID APPLICATOR Louis Sanders, Clifton, and Chester Pafi,

Garfield, N. J.

Application March 26, 1948, Serial No. 17,296 4 Claims. (01. 138) This invention relates generally to liquid appli cators and more particularly to devices of this class which are suited to the application of liquids of the quick drying type. While in the present embodiment of the invention, it has been shown in connection with an applicator especially suited for the deposition of a lacquer coating containing a highly volatile solvent, as for example nail lacquer, the invention may be used for the application of similar materials.

In the way in which a combination container, lacquer and brush are presently sold in the market, the brush is secured to the inner surface of the closure for the container. Each time the closure is removed in order to use the brush, the surface of the volatile material is exposed to the air with the result that undesirable drying occurs. Thus it is found that, frequently, before the contents of the container are half consumed, excessive evaporation of the volatile solvent has made the lacquer enamel too thick to apply the same properly.

Furthermore, another disadvantage of prior means for use ofthe lacquer results from the fact that in order to get the proper amount of the material on the brush it is wiped across the mouth of the container. This leaves a quantity of the lacquer which upon drying cements the closure in place making the closure difficult to remove for the next coating operation.

'within the handle body of the device.

Another object herein lies in the provision of structure of the class described which is easily carried as for example in the pocket or handbag of the user and in which the total bulk is efii ciently used so that a relatively large quantity of the liquid material may be carried therein. A feature of the device lies in the fact that it is sufficiently smallso that it can be conveniently handled and the liquid material accurately applied.

Another object herein lies in a reservoir type liquid applicator in which the applying element may be axially shifted with respect to the device to load it with the liquid material being applied, and in which the amount of loading may be controlled. 7

Another object herein lies in the provision .of a liquid applicator with self contained liquid supply in which loss of solvent is reduced to a minimum so that the device may be carried for long periods of time without undesirable thickening of the liquid.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fully appear in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views of each embodiment.

Figure l is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation, of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the present embodiment with the applying element projected, the actuating element depressed and the cover element removed.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the cover element.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view corresponding generally to the lower portion of Figure 1, but showing the applying element in a projected position thereof.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view with certain of the parts omitted for clarity, as might be seen from aplane corresponding to the plane 5-5 on Figure 4.

In accordance with the invention the device generally indicated by reference character 20 includes broadly a body element 22; a rear cap element 24 and an actuating element 26; rear hermetic sealing means 28; an applying element 30; resilient retracting means 32; metering means 34; valving means 36; and a front cover element 36.

The body element 22 includes a main body member 3. The body member 3 is of generally tubular shape, the central portion of which is preferably circular in cross section although not necessarily so. The rear end 4! is of reduced diameter and provided with an annular rib 52; carrying threads 43 the reduced effective diameter of the rear end 4f permits the inner end 44 of the rear cap element 24 to produce an alignment of the outer surface thereof with the outer surface of the body element 22 so that said outer surfaces form a substantially continuous handle generally indicated by reference character 45.

The forward portion of the body element 22 includes a nose member 2, the rear or inner end 46 of which is integrated with the forward or inner end 41 of the body member 3 in a liquid-tight manner. We have found that aforce fit between these parts when made of metal is satisfactory. The front end of the nose member has a frusto conical forwardly tapered portion 48; a spring chamber portion 49; a metering means seat por tion 50; a second frusto conical forward tapered portion and a cylindrical applicator member passage orifice 52. Orifice 52 is normally an exit orifice. The outer surface 53 of the chamber portion 49 is provided with threads 54 which are adapted to coact with the threads 55 on the center surface 56 of the cover element 38.

The rear cap element 24 comprises a body member 4; a main bore 51; a rear end bore 58; a

washer retainer bore 59; and a thread clearance bore 60. The inner surface of the borefifl car"- ries the threads 43. p

The actuating element 26 is of generally cylin drical shape and includes a body member 5- the diameter of which is substantially equal to or slightly less than the diameter of the rear end bore 58. Disposed outwardly of the body" member 5 is a frusto conical portion 6! an annular locking ledge 6-2, which is radially disposed; a cylindrical locking surface 63; and a digital pressure button 64. Inwardly of the body member 5, the actuating element 26 has a radial flange 65 and a projection 66 with a rounded edge 61.

The rear hermetic sealing means 28 comprises broadly a flexible substantially impervious membrane 68; a first retainer member 69; a second retainer member 9; a gasket H; first and second packing washers 12 and 13 respectively and a spacing washer 14.

The flexible impervious membrane is preferably'in the form of a cone having a peripheral flange and is preferably composed of a material which will not be deleteriously affected by the solvent component of the liquid material with which the device is used. We have found that a membrane member composed of synthetic resin or synthetic rubber such as neoprene is satisfactory when the liquid with which the device is used is a lacquer containing well known lacquer solvents.

The first retainer membrane 69 is of a stepped shape and includes'a first portion 16, the effective external diameter of which is a force fit within the washer retainer bore 59 and is of sufficient axial length to compress the flange 15 to make a substantial hermetic seal thereat. The first retainer member 69 has a narrower portion 11 upon which is mounted the gasket H. The gasket 1! is of circular shape having a large central orifice and is maintained in position by the rear edge of the second retainer member '79. The second retainer member 19 at and adjacent its rear edge is a force fit upon the outer surface of the narrower portion 1'. and the first retainer member 69. The first and second packingwa'shfers l2 and 73 and the spacing washer l4are confined within the chamber formed by the nested firstand second retainer members 69 and 79, and the aligned orifices in these afford apas'sage for the pusher member 16.

The applying element 39 comprises anielongated rod member 79, the pusher member' 'lflg referred to above, a stop 89, a liquid applyingnie'mber 61 and a support and valve member 82'. The rear end of the elongated rod member 191s pro vided with a socket'83 which is adapted to receive the inner end 84 of the pusher member 18 in sliding fashion. The support and valve member 82 may be integral with the rod element '19 and has a cavity 85 within which the rear end of the applying member 8 I 'is secured. The member has the same extermicmss sectionaiconfigura- 4 tion as internal cross sectional configuration of the orifice 52 and is a close sliding fit therein.

The resilient retracting means 32 comprises a helical expansive spring 86 and an inner spring retainer 81. The retainer 81 is preferably in the form of a plate 88 with a collar 89 which is secured upon the rod member 19 between the collar 99 fixed upon the upper member 19 and a plurality of swaged projections 9| on the said member 19. The spring 86 is supported at the outer end thereof upon the cone portion 92 of the metering element 93.

'Ihemetering means 34 includes the metering element 93,, the outer portion of which is in the form-or ahollow cylinder 94 which is a force fit seat'portion 59. The conical portion 92 is provided with a pair of metering orifices 95 the size of which may be changed to suit the viscosity of the liquid with which the device is used and the temperature conditions under which it is operated; The cone portion 92 has a central orifice through which the member 79 passes. I

The valvin'g means 36 includes the front end 9'6of th'e nose member 2 and the support and Valve member 82. The clearance between the orifice 52' and the member 82 to afford suitable valving operation will depend on the viscosity of the liquid being handled and the operating temperature.

The front cover element 38 is hollow and at the inner front surface thereof is provided with a closure gasket 97 preferably composed of the same materialof which the membrane member 68'i's composed. When the internal threads 55 thereon are in engagement with the external threads 54, suitable pressure may be exerted upon the closure gasket 91 to make a seal thereat.

The device 29 may be used in the following manner. The rear cap element 24 may be removed as a unit by disengaging the threads 43 from the threads on the clearance bore 69. When the rear cap element 24 is removed, the actuating element 26 and the parts above the second retainer member Ill on Figure 1 comewith it. The pusher member I8 is slideable through the gasket and retainer member orifices being limited in movement in one direction by the head 98 and in the opposite direction by the swaged projections 99. The liquid material (not shown) may now be placed in the body element 22 by pouring the same'through'the open-ing at the rear end 4!. This is of course preferably performed with the device in a vertical position as shown in Figure l. The liquid will run down through the orifices 95, and as far down as the closure gasket 91. In filling, the device is not filled to the top (the end 4!) but a substantial distance below, to allow for the displacement, caused by the parts which enter the liquid when the rear cap element 24 is put inplace'. Whenth'e cap element 24 is put in place theend 34 is seated in the socket 83 and the cap element drawn up tight to compress the gasket lii. With the parts in the last described'position the device may be carried in any position without leakage of the liquid in- 95 back into the main body member 3. The time required will depend upon the viscosity of the liquid material. It can be a few seconds. Following this, axial pressure upon the button 64 flexes the member68 and advances the pusher member 18. This moves the rod member 79 forwardly to compress the spring 86 and projects the liquid applying member 81 out through the orifice 52 (the front cover-element 38 having been removed), some of the liquid material remaining on the member 8 I. The body member 5 is moved inwardly until the locking ledge 62 is at the level of the rabbet [00. The body member 5 may now be laterally shifted so that the ledge engages the rabbet I00.

As soon as the liquid material on the member 8| has been consumed, it may be recharged with fluid by shifting the button 64 back to its axial position whereupon the spring 86 will retract the member 8! back into the cylinder 84 where said material may be picked up by capilarity or otherwise. The amount of the liquid which is deposited upon the applicator element, that is to say on the brush member 8|, may be controlled by the distance which it is allowed to travel, inwardly of the device, and the duration of its exposure to the liquid. The shorter the inward stroke and the shorter the duration of the dwell, the less the charge will be that is taken on. Conversely, a longer stroke inward and a longer dwell will result in a greater charge of liquid being taken on. Because of the viscosity of the liquid and the action of the metering means, the charging operation may be performed with the device in the position shown in Fig. 1.

We wish it to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. A device for the application of liquid material comprising: a hollow body element adapted to contain said liquid material, said body element having an exit orifice; an actuating element; an applying element disposed within said body element and longitudinally reciprocable to two positions by means of said actuating element, in one of which said applying element is projected outwardly of the body element, through said orifice;

and metering means through which said actuating element is movable; said metering means being fixed to said body element and including at least one small orifice.

2. A device for the application of liquid ma terial comprising: a hollow body element adapted to contain said liquid material, said body element having an exit orifice; an actuating element; an applying element disposed Within said body element and longitudinally reciprocable to two positions by means of said actuating element, in one of which said applying element is projected outwardly of the body element, through said orifice; and'metering means through which said actuatingelement is movable; said metering means being. fixed to said body element, said metering means including a plurality of small orifices through which the liquid may pass. I

3. A device for the application of liquid material comprising: a hollow body element; a rear cap element detachably connectible with said body element; an actuating element movably mounted in the rear cap element; an applying element reciprocably mounted within the device, and carrying an applying member on the forward end thereof; and sealing means disposed between the applying element and the actuating element, said sealing means including a flexible impervious membrane.

4. Structure as claimed in claim 3 in which the actuating element is movable longitudinally of the device and is laterally shiftable to lock it in position when the applying element is advanced.

LOUIS SANDERS. CHESTER PAFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 207,256 Crane Aug. 30, 1878 230,120 French July 20, 1880 279,767 Kibbe June 19, 1883 380,080 Bouton Mar. 27, 1888 580,013 Smith Apr. 6, 1897 1,054,229 Methven Feb. 25, 1913 2,195,474 Szucs Apr. 2', 1940 2,392,840 DeGroft Jan. 15, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 604,700 Germany Oct. 26, 1934 145,662 Austria May 11, 1936 

